Cody is in Northwest Wyoming, close to the east side Yellowstone National Park. Unlike Jackson, with its pet spas and high-end shopping, Cody is more authentically cowboy. Cody is famous for its rodeo, which occurs nightly during the summer, and for its proximity to fantastic wilderness adventures in Yellowstone and in the national forests surrounding the park.

Near Cody

Understand

• Buffalo Bill Dam and Cody Visitor Center. Six miles from the Eastern Yellowstone entrance is the visitor center that covers Cody and the Buffalo Bill Dam. There's not a tremendous amount of information, but it's a decent stopover if you're between hikes.

Get in

By plane

Yellowstone Regional Airport is two miles from the CBD. Delta Express flies here from Salt Lake City, Utah, and United Express and Mesa Airlines fly from Denver, Colorado.

By car

Car trips to Cody are a bit long, but you're rewarded with beautiful scenery.

• From the north - MT 310 connects I-90 with WYO 120 from Billings, Montana. Or, for a prettier alternative, drive from Red Lodge, Montana take the Beartooth Scenic Byway - US-212 is one of the top 20 drives in the country. The highway is open summer months only. US-212, the Beartooth Highway, leads to WY 296 - the Chief Joseph Scenic Highway. Here take US-212 to the northeast entrance of Yellowstone National Park, or take WY 296 to WY 120 and on to Cody.

• From the northeast - Over the Big Horn Mountains via Powell and Lovell on the Medicine Wheel Passage on US-14A. Open summer months only.

• From the south - I-25 to Casper, US-20 to Thermopolis, and WYO 120 to the hamlet of Meeteetse and then Cody.

• From the east - Across the Big Horn Scenic Byway on WYO 14 from Sheridan, Wyoming to Greybull on WYO 14-16-20. Through Buffalo, Wyoming on WYO 16 the Cloud Peak Skyway through Ten Sleep and Worland to WYO 16-20 to Greybull and on to Cody.

• From the west - Through Jackson, Wyoming and Yellowstone National Park on WY 191 to WY 14-16-20, the Buffalo Bill Cody Scenic Byway to Cody.

Get around

Given Cody's rather remote location and the activities you've come to Cody to enjoy, you will want a car to get around.

See

• Buffalo Bill Historical Center, 720 Sheridan Ave. 307/587.4771. One center offers up five different museums. The Plains Indian Museum is award-winning, and the Whitney Gallery of Western Art has many stunning pieces by Remington and more. 
• Cody Stampede Rodeo and Cody Nite Rodeo. From June 1 to August 31, the Cody Nite Rodeo runs every evening with bull riding, steer wrestling and more. Right around the 4th of July, the Cody Stampede Rodeo occurs, which is the biggest event in the summer in Cody. Cowboys from all over the nation and the world compete in seven different events. 

• 1 Smith Mansion, 2902 N Fork Hwy. Ruins of an extraordinary wooden structure located on a hill visible from the road in Wapiti between Cody and Yellowstone National Park. Do not attempt to enter the property - it is dangerous and the owners do not welcome trespassers. (updated Oct 2015)

Do

• Hike. Cody is one of the jumping-off points for Yellowstone National Park. You don't have to go that far though to find beautiful trails, particularly in the Shoshone National Forest.

• Dude ranches. There are several ranches in and around Cody that offer horseback riding and ranching experiences. Many of them are close to Yellowstone National Park, so you can piece together two different types of trips. One of the many ranches is K3 Guest Ranch [1].

Eat

• Proud Cut Saloon, 1227 Sheridan Ave, ☏ +1 307 527-6905. This is one of Cody's most famous restaurants. Don't be surprised to find yourself eating a great cut of meat out on a patio with plastic table coverings. Proud Cut is more about good food than fancy surroundings. 
• Zapata's, 1362 Sheridan Ave, ☏ +1 307 527-7181. Zapata's is located at the end of Cody's main drag. The Mexican food isn't bad, but the margaritas and beer are great after a long day's hike. 
• Shiki Japanese Restaurant, 1420 Sheridan Ave. Amazing Japanese food, and a great atmosphere. 
• Silver Dollar Bar, 1313 Sheridan Ave, ☏ +1 307 527-7666. Best burger in town. Must be 21 to eat inside, great place to eat & drink outside on the patio during the summer. 

Sleep

• 1 Comfort Inn, 1601 Sheridan Ave, ☏ +1 307 587-5556. In the heart of downtown. All of Cody's best restaurants and gift shops within walking distance. Free breakfast, Wi-Fi, great customer service, and a cozy room. 

• 2 The Cody, 232 West Yellowstone Ave, ☏ +1 307 587-5915. The only luxury hotel, it is a green-friendly resort offering many upscale amenities. Less than a mile from the Cody Rodeo Grounds. Enjoy the scenic beauty and luxury of this hotel. 

• 3 Heart2Heart Ranch - Bed, Barn and Breakfast, 486 Rd 2AB, ☏ +1 307 587-2906. A small working ranch near the Heart Mountain, Heart2Heart is cozy, comfortable and the folks who run it are very welcoming. You can also stay here with your dog. 

• 4 Best Western Sunset Motor Inn, 1601 8th St, ☏ +1 307 587-4265, toll-free: +1-800-624-2727, fax: +1 307 587-9029. 

• 5 Holiday Inn, 1701 Sheridan Ave, ☏ +1 307 587-5555. 

• 6 Green Creek Inn & RV Park, 2908 Northfork Highway, ☏ +1877 587-5004. A nice motel in Wapiti between Cody and Yellowstone National Park. The rooms are clean and cosy. The owners are friendly, and seemed to be quite strict about the rules of their place, which some less disciplined guests might find uncomfortable. From the premises there is a prime view of the Smith Mansion. From 70$. (updated Oct 2015)

Go next

Routes through Cody

to Idaho Falls ← Yellowstone N.P. ←

W  E

→ Greybull → Sheridan/Buffalo/Casper